Beechcraft 33 N331DP

Summary

On 27 September 1997 at about 21:10 local time, a Beechcraft 33 registered N331DP, operated by Alan Land, was involved in an accident near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 September 1997 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Smith Reynold (INT)

Coordinates

36.1406, -80.3191

Aircraft

Beechcraft 33

Registration

N331DP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alan Land

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jasper → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97LA142

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that before takeoff, he checked the aircraft fuel supply and elected not to refuel. He reported that during examination of the fuel supply, the fuel supply in the left wing tank was two inches below the filler cap, and the right fuel gauge showed 1/4 tank. The pilot thought he had ample fuel for the 269 mile flight to the destination airport. Before reaching his distination, the pilot advised an air traffic controller that he was experiencing engine problems and requested assistance to the nearest airport. Moments later, he reported that the engine was running again, and he wanted to continue the flight to the destination airport. About five miles from the airport, the pilot reported that the engine had quit again. Subsequently, during a forced landing, the airplane collided with a utility pole and lines. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem or system malfunction. There was no fuel recovered from the aircraft fuel system during field examination of the airframe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.